Key Points
- To investigate the role of neuregulin-1 and its receptors in cardiac myocyte proliferation and survival.
- Studied the effects of recombinant human glial growth factor 2 (rhGGF2) on neonatal and adult rat cardiac myocytes
- Assessed changes in proliferation, survival, and hypertrophic growth of myocytes in primary cultures
- Measured receptor expression and neuregulin expression in coronary microvascular endothelial cells
- rhGGF2 treatment led to approximately 2-fold increase in embryonic cardiac myocyte proliferation
- Inhibited apoptosis in serum-deprived myocyte cultures
- Induced hypertrophic growth with increased expression of prepro-atrial natriuretic factor and skeletal alpha-actin
Structured PICO
PPopulationIsolated neonatal and adult rat cardiac myocytes; coronary microvascular endothelial cell primary cultures from adult rat ventricular muscle
IInterventionSoluble neuregulin-1 (recombinant human glial growth factor 2 [rhGGF2]) 30 ng/ml
OOutcomeProliferation, survival, and growth of isolated neonatal and adult rat cardiac myocytessurrogate
Neuregulin-1 promotes survival, proliferation, and hypertrophic growth of rat cardiac myocytes, suggesting a role in myocardial adaptation to stress or injury.